Process for producing acetic acid from acetylene by electrolysis.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN HANSEN AND ANTON WEINDEL, 0F LEVERKUSEN, NEAR COLOGNE, GER- MANY, ASSIG-NORS T0 SYNTHETIC PATENTS (30.. INCL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ACETIC ACID FROM ACETYLENE BY ELECTROLYSIS.

No Drawing.

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHRISTIAN HANSEN and AN'rox \VEINDEL, citizens of the German Empire, residing at Leverlrusen, near Cologne-on-the-Rhine, Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements in Processes for Producin Acetic Acid from Acetylene by Electrolysis, of which the following is a specification.

Our present invention relates to a new and valuable process of producing acetic acid from acetylene by electrolysis.

This process consists in oxidizing acetylene on the anode with the aid of an acid} electrolyte, such as sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, which contains mercury compounds.

The mercury is added advantageously in the form of mercuric oxid, either to the acid electrolyte directly, or in a dissolved condition.

When acetylene is conducted into such an acid electrolyte containing a mercury compound, addition coinpounds are formed which by electrolysis at the anode are oxidized to form acetic acid and set free mercury salts. The oxidation of .the anode apparently results in the formation of mercury oxid which is immediately dissolved in the acid solution. Dilute sulfuric acid itself possesses but little absorptive power for acetylene, but with the mercury present and the formation ofthe addition combinations, the absorption power of the electrolyte is increased to a remarkable degree. A good yield of acetic acid is obtained, working even with the usual current at a tension of 3 to 4 volts. i

In order to illustrate the new process more fully the following example is given, the parts being by weight :The anode-space of an electrolysmg chamber provided with a diaphragm of clay and an anode of platinum is charged with sulfuric acid (30 per cent.) and 1 to 2 per cent. of mercuric oxid calculated accordmg to the weight of the anodic liquid while the cathode formed of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

Application'filed January 28, 1914. Serial No. 815,017.

lead or copper is also immerged in sulfuric acid (30 per cent). Acetylene is then introduced into the anodes space, allowing the electric current to pass through and stirring at the same time. In this process 48.5 parts of acetylene are used every hour for every 100 ampere current. The tension of the bath at a current density of 5-15 ampere for each 20 square decimeters anodes surface is 3l.5 volts and the. temperature of the electrolyte is kept at 30 1O C.

A good yield of acetic acid is thus obtained which can be separated from the resulting mixture in any suitable manner.

We claim 1. The process of producing acetic acid from acetylene by electrolysis which comprises the oxidation of acetylene on the anode with the aid of an acid electrolyte which contains a. mercury compound, substantially as described.

2. The process of producing acetic acid from acetylene by electrolysis which comprises the oxidation of acetylene on an anode from platinum with the aid of a sul-' furic acid electrolyte which contains a mercury compound, substantially as described.

13. The process of producing acetic acid from acetylene by electrolysis which comprises the oxidation of acetylene on the anode with the aid of an acid electrolyte containing in solution about 1 to 2 per cent. of mercuric oxid.

4. The process of producing acetic acid from acetylene by electrolysis which comprises the oxidation of acetylene on the anode with the aid of a sulfuric acid electrolyte which contains a mercury compound, substantially as described.

5. The process of producing acetic acid from acetylene by electrolysis which comprises the oxidation of acetylene on the anode with the aid of a sulfuric acid elec-' trolyte of about 30 per cent. sulfuric acid which contains a mercury compound, substantially as described.

6. The process of producing acetic acid from acetylene by electrolysis which comprises the oxidation of acetylene on the anode with the aid of a sulfuric acid electrolyte of about 30 per cent. sulfuric acid containing in solution about to 2 per cent.

of mercuric oxid.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto I,

set our hands in the presence of two subscriblng Witnesses.

CHRISTIAN HANSEN. VANTON WEINDEL.

Witnesses LOUIS VANDORY, HANS BRICKNER.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 1,159,376.

requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 31, after the word "mercury It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,159,376, granted November 9,

1915, upon the application of Christian Hansen and Anton Weindel, of Lcverkusen,

near Cologne, Germany, for an improvement in Processes for Producing Acetic Acid from Acetylene by Electrolysis, an error appears in the printed specification insert the word compound; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of January, A. D., 1916.

[smn] J. T. NEWTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

